JAMES CLINGMAN
(NNPA)—“I was tired of giving in.”—Rosa Parks
It is always interesting to reflect on certain events that took place in days gone by, especially when it comes to economic issues. In my entrepreneurship classes, I often use the example of the Montgomery bus boycott to illustrate a very important lesson we could (and should) take from those strong, dedicated, and committed brothers and sisters who walked until their demands were met. Some 42,000 bus riders walked to work for 381 days. Not only was their action exemplary and admirable, it also offers a very important lesson in economic empowerment.
Here’s what I mean. Let’s assume the bus fare in Montgomery at that time was 20 cents roundtrip. We know the bus boycott lasted for 381 days. Multiply 20 cents times 381 times 42,000. The answer: $3,200,400. How many buses do you think could have been purchased with that amount of money in 1956 when the boycott ended? Do you think the people could have bought a factory and produced seats, or tires, or signs for those buses? How about opening a maintenance facility to service the buses? Get the picture? Do you see the lesson?
Suppose those who walked to work had put their bus fare into a common fund every day as sort of a savings account for Black folks. If they had done that, in addition to withholding their money from the bus company, they would have had $3,200,400. In 1956 that was a great deal of money and could have created great economic change.
While there are many other lessons we can learn from and take advantage of today, the Montgomery issue stands out because of a story I read in the Toledo Journal many years ago titled, “Restored Rosa Parks Bus heads for new home.” As I read it, I could not help but think about the above-mentioned numbers because the article cited the purchase of the bus by the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich.
The bus was found in a field, rusted and riddled with bullet holes. The museum paid $492,000 for it and spent $300,000 more for its restoration. With $3.2 million, not only could the bus boycotters have bought a fleet of Black-owned buses, they could have also bought the Rosa Parks Bus. Do you see the irony here? Do you see the lesson? Now if you want to see that bus, you’ll have to pay an admission fee to the museum. It’s like I always say, “Many of us prefer symbolism over substance.”
Even though our “leaders” have waited nearly 50 years to tell us that economic empowerment is what we must seek and fight for, it is vital that we take our lessons whenever and wherever we can find them. We must remember that things always boil down to economics in some form or fashion.
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